The Pittsburgh Steelers are catching heat for their travel strategy ahead of Sunday's clash with the New Orleans Saints in Paris. According to Jeff Hathhorn, the team will board a redeye flight tonight and head straight to practice upon landing—a plan that has fans and analysts scratching their heads.
The Saints, meanwhile, have been in the French capital since the start of the week, getting acclimated to the time change and the field. This disparity in preparation has sparked a wave of criticism aimed at Pittsburgh's coaching staff.
Andrew Fillipponi of 93.7 The Fan didn't mince words: “This whole thing seems very dumb to me.” Former NFL player Breiden Fehoko took to social media, calling it “one of the dumbest things I’ve ever seen,” and added, “Every NFL plane ride is pure card games, movie watching, and guys hanging out. Thinking that 'they'll sleep overnight' on the plane is so stupid. The Saints are already in Paris getting acclimated. I hate poorly ran organizations.”
SB Nation's Jarrett Bailey echoed the sentiment, predicting a Saints victory: “Saints are winning this thing. Just dumb way to handle this week.”
The decision comes amid ongoing unrest in the capital, which has already forced the NFL to cancel a planned fan zone and ramp up security measures. The league has insisted that moving the game was never on the table, but the circumstances have added another layer of complexity to the trip.
This isn't the first time a team has faced travel backlash this season. In Week 1, the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams squared off in Australia, with the 49ers arriving a full week early while the Rams landed just a day before kickoff. The Rams lost, and coach Sean McVay later reflected, “Sometimes you win, sometimes you learn. And sometimes you have a coach that makes travel plans that put you in a bad spot.”
Steelers coach Mike McCarthy, who is also dealing with a recent ankle injury, will be hoping his gamble pays off. But with the Saints already settled in and the travel fatigue looming, the odds may be stacked against Pittsburgh.
As the team boards that overnight flight, the criticism is unlikely to fade. The real test comes Sunday, when the Steelers will need to overcome jet lag, a hostile environment, and a well-rested opponent. Whether this “dumb” plan backfires remains to be seen.
